Flexible plastic tubing



March 22, M B BUSH FLEXIBLE PLASTIC TUBING Filed Oct. 23, 1952 UnitedStates Patent FLEXIBLE PLASTIC TUBING Matthew B. Blish, Oak Park, Ill.

Application October 23, 1952, Serial No. 316,433

1 Claim. (Cl. 138-56) The main object of this invention is to provide aflexible plastic tubing with means associated therewith for sustainingsufl'icient support to retain predetermined curves upon bending theplastic tubing and to support the tubing against inward collapse therebyproviding unrestricted passage through the curved tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide tubing of this type whichenables objects fixed to one or both ends of the tubing to be quicklyand easily adjusted to desired positions and so retained for moreeflicient operation when incorporated in certain parts of articles ofeveryday use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tubing havingthese qualities that is simple and practical in construction, reliablein use, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which thesame is intended.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in certainnovel structures and combinations of parts hereinafter fully describedand claimed.

In the drawings, in which like parts are denoted by the same referencenumerals throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view (partly broken away) of asection of flexible plastic tubing.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view (partly broken away) of asection of flexible plastic tubing showing a modification of the device.

Fig. 3 is an elevational side view showing a section of the deviceincorporated in use with a spray unit.

Fig. 4 is an elevational side view showing a section of the deviceincorporated in use with a flashlight.

Referring to the drawings, and first particularly to the now preferredembodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the metallic strips are ofnon-resilient proper ties and are embedded within the circumambienttubing walls 11 encompassing the bore of the tubing at uniformly spacedintervals and disposed parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tubing12 so that when the tubing is bent into a curve the portion of the wallon the concave side is supported upon a fixed radius by at least one ofthe metallic strips on that side of the tube and the others of thestrips supporting the portion of the tubing wall on the convex side ofthe curve upon a relatively larger fixed radius, thus the tubing wall issupported against inward collapse providing unrestricted passage throughthe curved tubing.

The inside section 11a as shown in the modification in Fig. 2 is moldedwith indentations 13 in its outside surface to correspond with one-halfthe thickness of the metallic strips 10. The outside section 11b havingindentations 14 in its inside surface at intervals corresponding withindentations 13 and adapted to receive one-half the thickness of themetallic strips. A bonding agent film is coated over the outside surfaceof the inner section; the metallic strips are placed within theindentations 13; the outer section is then telescoped over the innersection and metallic strips so that indentations in the outer sectionreceive the remaining one-half thickness of the metallic strips.

Fig. 3 shows one adaptation of the tubing in actual use. The tubing 12connects the spray unit 15 and the flange 16 which is fixed over themouth of the water faucet 17. Upon bending the tubing, the spray unit isdirected to a desired curve and is there retained for efiicient use ofthe spray.

Another adaptation of the tubing is shown in Fig. 4. The flashlight case18 and reflector 19 are connected with a section of tubing 12, whichwhen bent, directs the reflector to a desired curve for more convenientuse of the flashlight.

From the foregoing descriptions it will be understood that the inventionprovides a new and eflicient means for using flexible plastic tubing ina manner which enables the tubing to be conveniently directed to andretained at predetermined curves.

While only two applications of the tubing are shown and described, itwill be understood that the device is applicable to other purposes torigidly retain a flexible plastic tubing at predetermined curves for themore convenient and eflicient conveyance of chemicals, liquidfoodstufis, air ventilation ducts and the like.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art. A moredetailed description is therefore deemed unnecessary.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that the same principalcombinations and functional relationships of elements are involved inthe preferred form shown in Fig. 1 and the modification shown in Fig. 2,as in a broad sense, bendable metallic strips having non-resilientproperties and of sufficient rigidity to support the flexible plastictubing for retention at predetermined curves are embedded between thebore of the plastic material and its outside surface.

The term plastic used herein relates to non-metallic substances havingflexible properties and capable of being formed or molded.

It is to be further understood that even though there is herein shownand described a preferred embodiment and modification the invention issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention and from the exact shapes shown without affecting the scopeand spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

It is intended that all matter contained in the above description orshown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

A flexible tubing comprising a plastic wall encompassing a bore withinthe tubing, a plurality of flexible metallic strips having non-resilientproperties extending longitudinally of the tubing and embedded withinthe wall, each said strip being normally parallel with the longitudinalaxis of the bore of the tubing and said strips being disposed at closeand uniformly spaced intervals so that when the tubing is bent into acurve the portion of the wall on the concave side of the curve issupported upon a fixed radius by at least one of the strips embedded onthat side of the tube, others of the strips supporting the portion ofthe tubing wall on the convex side of the curve upon a relatively largerfixed radius, whereby the tubing wall is supported against inwardcollapse thereby providing unrestricted passage through the curvedtubing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 28,647Butler June 12, 1860 182,485 Saul Sept. 19, 1876 480,749 Stanley Aug.16, 1892 625,917 Arnold May 30, 1899 1,626,533 Hergershausen Apr. 26,1927 2,530,105 Wallace Nov. 14, 1950 2,619,125 Eickmeyer et a1 Nov. 25,1952 2,648,720 Alexander Aug. 11, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 447,816 GreatBritain May 21, 1936

